sundown sd1000h

[selloutrr]

i just scored a Sundown SD1000h and im trying to track down an owners manual, an original foot switch, and a Sundown Ext. cab.

If anyone has a way of contacting Dennis Kager the designer that might be a good place to start. I've searched 20 pages in on search engines and he's very well respected and referred to as a nice guy but no where does it give a contact number.

Sundown has gone two different directions since production ended. one is a car audio amplifier usung an SD - 1000 in it's model line and the second is a a solid state bass amp using a logo that is very close to the one used on the original ext. cab.

I was able to find a schematic which was surprisingly easier then finding a picture of the head.

i'll post what i've found so you have an idea of what i'm talking about.

Designed by Dennis Kager former Ampeg employee, he built the Sundowns by hand in the 80's. He's credited with co designing the Reverend HellHound with Naylor. as well as designing with pignose and moog.

Sundown SD1000H

Dual Channels (Red / Green)
5 preamp tubes 2 6L6 or 6550
30-50 Watts
built in attenuator
reverb
channel switching
isolated FX loops for each channel

[Firestorm]

Did you try:

Central Jersey Music Service
1627 State Route 27
Edison, NJ 08817-3475

(732) 572-1911‎

Supposedly his current business.

Found it on the Web, tho', so who knows.

[selloutrr]

Right on!
Thank you!

[selloutrr]

just called
yes he owns the business
he does not work on wednesday
but he'll be in tomorrow noon-9pm
has the manual!
OH YEAH!!!

thanks for the lead!

[Bob-I]

Yes, he's there. I've met him and talked to him about his Sundown's.
Good guy and a great amp tech. Good luck locating cabs.

[selloutrr]

yeah i know! the cab is going to be the hard part.
I'll probably find a dozen more Sundown heads before I stumble across a cab. probably in a music store or pawn shop without a logo and just by luck i happen to buy it.
I'm guessing my best chances are on the east coast.
My other thought was if anyone has one that can give a detailed build design i could take it to a cabinet company and have one built.
either way i'm left on the hunt for a Cab logo, and foot switch, i'm not even sure what it looks like. (probably just a single button fender) I hope to learn more tomorrow I'll share what i find out.

[selloutrr]

here is a pic i found with a head and ext cab

[selloutrr]

OK the sundown arrived from boston mid september with sovtek gold pre's and ruby 6550's. I had the overdrive channel die on me during inspection, the amp still passes reverb and clean channel perfectly. all tubes check out ok i suspect after looking at the schematic it's either the high EQ pot or a switching relay has gone south. I haven't had time to get it on the bench, i'm also going to check for mods that may have decreased the wattage as it sounded a bit choked, but it could be the tubes. The plan is to restore it to original, 5 tungsram 12ax7 (ecc83) 7025 and a pair of GE / Tung Sol 6550. I spoke with dennis before the sundown arrived and he is going to build an original footswitch for ch. switching, and manual after he walks me threw the SD1000h over the phone.

I lost out on a 1x12 cab on ebay last month
I just happened to check craigslist and find a sundown 4x12 cabinet in washington today!!! OH YEAH i gave it a new home!!!

[Structo]

Sweet!

That is great that Dennis working with you on it.
Shows you how much he loved his amps!

[selloutrr]

one of his co worker said they were like children to him.

Dennis and I spoke for a good half hour before the amp arrived. He happily answered all my questions and told the history of the SD1000h. you could really hear the excitement in his voice!

[Structo]

Love to see a gut shot if you ever open her up.

[selloutrr]

will do! i'll go get the risson LTA120 off the bench and get the sundown openned up!

[selloutrr]

sundown SD1000H inside pic I have to admit i'm not excited about trouble shooting this amplifier ugh!

[Bob-I]

That amp looks like it was recapped. The original cap fit on the board on the example I saw.

Dennis told me that none of his amps needed recapping, apparently he had a lot of faith in the caps he used.

[selloutrr]

i agree they look new / aftermarket i believe the original caps were grey. the amp was silent though before it stopped switching to the overdrive channel, the clean channel still is. the caps would have been the better part of 25 years old by now and the head was used by a professional studio musician, so a cap job would be understandable.

at this time i'm going to guess it's the relay causeing the grief in the ch switching.